Sweet Like Chocolate, You Bring Me So Much Joy

It’s #NationalChocolateWeek and wellbeing blogger Feel-Good Flora is joyfully sharing the mood boosting benefits of chocolate!

I’ve just eaten a few pieces of chocolate as I was researching for this blog. It’s raining outside, I’ve got a hot cup of tea on my desk and I wanted to test the theory that chocolate increases happiness – I’m saying yes, it does!

I think of my memoirs of chocolate and all are happy, smile inducing ones; chocolate birthday cakes, over indulging on midnight feasts at friends sleepovers, Nutella for breakfast on family holidays, hot chocolates in snowy mountains, the best puddings at restaurants always include chocolate… you may share these thoughts with me?!

Feel-Good Flora Happy Chocolate Bars

What’s better is that I’ve been told a good quality dark chocolate does in fact make us happier.

Chocolate contains phenylethylamine (PEA), which is the same chemical that your brain creates when you feel like you’re falling in love. PEA encourages your brain to release feel-good endorphins.

If we’re feeling angry or stressed, a little bit of good-quality dark chocolate can help by releasing endorphins and reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol in our bodies.

I’ve jazzed-up 70% cocoa chocolate bars with extra foods that make us happier (see photos above). Including nuts and seeds: contains essential amino acid tryptophan which is vital in helping keep the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin at healthy, happy levels and Brazil nuts: they help regulate moods from the inside out. Snap off a little chunk – it’s delish.

Happy chocolate, happy mind!

Here are some of my top picks are: deliciously indulgent bars from Godiva, a personalised bar from Green & Black’s, Pink Himalayan Salted Caramel Truffles from Charbonnel et Walker, and The Autumn Sleekster box from Hotel Chocolat.